WATCH: Cincinnati Zoo’s baby hippo Fritz explores outdoor habitat, pool for the first time

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Zoo’s two-week-old baby hippo Fritz and his mom Bibi got to explore their outdoor habitat for the first time Monday morning.

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“The habitat introduction went pretty much as we hoped it would,” said Cincinnati Zoo’s director of animal care Christina Gorsuch.  “Bibi, followed closely by Fritz, came out right away and walked into the pool. She showed great maternal instincts and used her body to block Fritz from spending too much time in deep water. He went under to nurse and explore a little but stayed right by mom.”

Fritz and Bibi spent a little over an hour in the water and then headed back to the indoor habitat where they’ve been bonding since he was born earlier this month, the zoo said.

The zoo said Fritz’s big sister, Fiona, and dad, Tucker, went back outside after mom and baby came in.

“We will continue to expose Fritz to the habitat more and more in the coming days,” said Gorsuch. “Once we’re confident that he and Bibi are comfortable in all corners of that space, visitors will get a chance to see them.”

The zoo said it will continue to provide updates on when the public will be able to see Fritz outside.

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